Paddock Insider: 2015 United States Pro Kart Series – Shawano
EKN’s Paddock Insider is a new Trackside coverage addition, bringing you notes, updates and breaking news as it happens. The article will be a timeline of events as they happen during the 2015 United States Pro Kart Series at US Air Motorsports Raceway in Shawano, Wisconsin. The information will not be seen anywhere else, including interviews and photos. Please feel free to comment and discuss our coverage and today’s action in the EKN Global Members Discussion area below: For complete coverage head to the EKN Event Page.
Leopard Pro on Sunday during the Final going through the corkscrew in #Shawano #EKNatUSPKS
Posted by eKartingNews.com on Tuesday, June 23, 2015
Leopard Pro Sunday Final start #EKNatUSPKS #Shawano
Posted by eKartingNews.com on Tuesday, June 23, 2015
Leopard Pro Saturday Final start
Posted by eKartingNews.com on Sunday, June 21, 2015
Leopard Pro Saturday top qualifier Jacob Donald #EKNatUSPKS #Shawano
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Yamaha Junior Saturday top qualifier Lance Fenderson #EKNatUSPKS #Shawano
A photo posted by eKartingNews (@ekartingnews) on
Mini Rok Cadet Saturday top qualifier Reece Gold #EKNatUSPKS #Shawano
A photo posted by eKartingNews (@ekartingnews) on
Praga North America and USPKS Raffling Off Kart This Season
The presenting sponsor of the Shawano event, Praga North America is providing a chassis for raffle this weekend. A 2015 Praga Dragon will go to the lucky winner of a raffle that the USPKS is putting together. Tickets will be available for sale this weekend, and throughout the season to give away at the year-end awards ceremony.
Praga North America has moved to a new location, with Blake Wankowski navigating the operation now out of Brookfield, Wisconsin. The new building is 6,000 square feet, and houses all the Praga product and distribution for North America. Office space is currently finishing up, along with the final touches to the warehouse section and the team department where Praga chassis are prepped for competition and customers.
It’s coming… #EKNatUSPKS #Shawano
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Speed secrets by Paul Holden #EKNatUSPKS #Shawano A photo posted by eKartingNews (@ekartingnews) on
‘Rok’-ing the Future of the USPKS
Vortex Rok GP engine (Photo: EKN)
This weekend is the debut of the Vortex Rok GP engine for Senior and Junior competition at the United States Pro Kart Series. Drivers will compete in a Friday-Saturday format that includes practice, qualifying, three heat races, Prefinal and Final. The three events remaining, including here in Shawano, will count toward a championship with the two drivers awarded a trip to compete at the Rok Cup International Final in Italy this October. Nine drivers total are competing this weekend. Also, the Vortex DVS direct drive engine was on display Thursday, with OTK karts for qualified drivers to sample. The future of Vortex with the USPKS program is uncertain. Series promoter Mark Coats has not confirmed any changes for 2016, stating that talks are underway with multiple engine manufacturers and importers.
US Air Motorsports Raceway Up for Auction
On July 1, JP. King will be auctioning off the US Air Motorsports Raceway facility. The last five years, a Texas company has owned the property, with Pat Polk managing the day-to-day operations. This event will be the final karting event before the property is put up for auction. The 39 acre facility holds an amusement park section, along with the 1.1-mile circuit. Many around the paddock would love to call the facility home, however the location of 30 miles northwest of Green Bay is not very appealing. The track welcomes drifting, SuperMoto, and other type of events, however it is only open during the warmer months. There have been rumors of certain individuals in the karting community interested in the property, along with talks about land developers coming in as well. Until July 1, we really won’t know what the future holds for this unique and challenging facility.
Two Sets of Tires for Everyone
This weekend, and this weekend only, classes competing on the MG Yellow tires will be allowed to run one set per day. Over the Route 66 Sprint Series, the tire degradation was much more then seen at any other track. The rubber build up on the track is not the issue, like seen at other circuits around the country, but the loss of grip with no wear left on the tire is the reason for change. All drivers in the Yellow tire divisions (Yamaha Pro, Leopard Junior, Yamaha Junior) are using one set per day now, instead of one set throughout the weekend. The Cadet divisions are still using the MG Reds, one set for the weekend. Their tires are lasting both days, however, you can see the times drop off the more laps they run.
It is really challenging the drivers and teams, trying to understand. The surface is smooth, however there is no real answer for why the track is eating up the right side tires so much. Most of the time, the track is used for SuperMoto, Drifting, and other events with karting thrown in there from time to time. Finding the ‘happy medium’ with the setup as the day goes on will be key in getting to the front, and staying there.
KartLift Tire Changer On the Market
KartLift Tire Changer
Wisconsin-based KartLift is always looking to make the race day experience a little easier on the club racers or just the guy running solo at a test anywhere in the country. From their industry-changing one-man kart stand, the company has added the Tire Changer to list of products manufactured here in the USA. Formerly known as the AMR Tire Changer, this product provide a fast and easy way to mount and dismount kart tires from the standard 5” and 6” wheels. It takes away the risk of smashing your hands, or the strain of sitting on your knees while you struggle to get the tire on or off the rim. With the KartLift Tire Changer, you complete the task standing up.
All the pieces used to manufacture the Tire Changer are laser cut, CNC quality parts that meet the standards set by KartLift and all their other products. KartLift dealers across the country are picking up the Tire Changer for their customers, including major shops like Franklin, KartSport North America and Comet Kart Sales. Find out more in the Products section of kartlift.com
Champions Malukas and Tavella Absent in Shawano
David Malukas (Photo: Giuseppe Carrone)
2014 USPKS Leopard Junior champion David Malukas is not competing this weekend in Shawano in either Junior divisions. The Illinois driver and star on Kart Life is over in England, competing at the CIK European Championship Event at PF International. His recent departure with Top Kart has him racing with BirelART factory team this weekend. Speaking with his longtime mechanic Wes Phillips, the future here in the United States is uncertain as to what brand and what team he will be racing with.
Double Cadet champion Dylan Tavella is missing from the paddock as well here in Shawano. The New Yorker is back home finishing up with school this week, and will not be here to compete in the Junior categories. The Tony Kart driver with Iron Rock Motorsports is into his first season in the Junior ranks after shining during his Cadet years.
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